The Saline Hornets girls’ softball team saw its season end in the opening round of MHSAA district play Tuesday night. The Hornets were only able to push across one run despite hitting the ball solidly as they fell 3-1 to the Monroe Trojans.
The Trojans struck first, scoring two runs in the second inning off Hornets starter Kristina Zalewski. Zalewski walked the bases loaded with two outs; she then gave up a two-run single to the number nine hitter for Monroe.
Saline answered in the fourth, when Angel Schilke led off with a double and came around to score. It was the only run the Hornets would be able to muster all game. They would threaten in the fifth when Lindsey Moore got to second with a single and advancing on a wild pitch, but she would be stranded there after back-to-back strikeouts and a grounder back to the pitcher. The Hornets would put runners on second and third in the seventh, but would not be able to score.
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“They fought, and that’s what they needed to do. They hit the ball hard, line drive to the outfield, line drive to third base with a nice catch. I can’t ask for anything else,” said head coach Alicia Seegert.
Monroe would add an insurance run in the sixth, when a single and a walk from Zalewski and a hit batter by reliever Laura Vaccaro loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly to center scored the final Trojan run.
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Zalewski had a rough outing for Saline, giving up three runs in five-plus innings. She allowed three hits, but walked five while striking out eight. Her best inning was in the fourth when she struck out the side in order.
“[Kristina] had that one inning that was great, and then she just falls off the wagon. I just couldn’t afford it at the end. It is just something we need to get through with the kid,” said Seegert, said of the promising sophomore ace.